Hollywood is buzzing with the dramatic rescue of Todd Haynes' long-awaited gay love story, De Noche, after Joaquin Phoenix's shocking departure left the project in chaos just days before filming. In a stunning turn of events, Pedro Pascal has swooped in to save the film, signing on as confirmed by MK2 Films, the new production company behind this high-stakes project.
Pascal will join forces with rising star Danny Ramirez (Top Gun: Maverick, Captain America: Brave New World) in this explosive period drama set to begin production next month. Haynes, known for his groundbreaking queer cinema, describes the film as a raw, unflinching look at love surviving in an era of political terror and corruption—a story that feels eerily relevant today.
Pedro Pascal and Danny Ramirez—the dynamic duo reuniting for their third project together. Travis P. Ball/SXSW Conference & Festivals via Getty; Sam Corum/PA Images via Getty
Co-written by Haynes and Jon Raymond, De Noche follows a gritty detective and a boarding school teacher in 1930s Los Angeles who ignite a forbidden romance. As political corruption explodes around them, they become targets and must flee to Mexico in a desperate bid for survival—a narrative that promises edge-of-your-seat tension and heartfelt emotion.
MK2 Films is producing alongside Killer Films and Paloma Negra Films, with the company also financing and handling international sales. Fionnuala Jamison of MK2 praised Haynes' track record of emotionally charged films like Carol and Far from Heaven, calling De Noche "a powerful addition to his legacy that will resonate deeply with audiences."
Pascal announced his involvement in a cryptic Instagram post, sharing images from Haynes' past works and a photo with Ramirez, captioned simply "De nada." This marks the third collaboration between Pascal and Ramirez, following their acclaimed work on HBO's The Last of Us and the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday—fueling speculation about their on-screen chemistry.
Pedro Pascal in 2025—the star who stepped up when the film needed him most. Amy Sussman/Getty
After Phoenix's abrupt exit threw the film into uncertainty, both Haynes and Ramirez expressed initial disappointment. Ramirez saw it as a challenge to push forward, while Phoenix remained tight-lipped about his reasons during a press event for Joker: Folie à Deux, stating it wouldn't be fair to the other creatives—leaving fans and insiders guessing about the real story behind his departure.
